On Tuesday, President Donald Trump lavished effusive praise on Saudi’s de facto ruler, calling him “an incredible man” and a “great guy,“ and made no mention of human rights concerns in the country.
The display of affection for a leader with a contentious history mirrored Trump’s first term, when he forged an alliance with bin Salman that deepened through years of mutual flattery and dealmaking.
At the summit, Trump touted a $142 billion defense agreement and a sweeping $600 billion Saudi investment package spanning artificial intelligence, infrastructure and energy.
While bin Salman has denied involvement in journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder and pointed to reforms such as expanding women’s rights as evidence of progress, analysts said these changes were undercut by continued crackdowns on dissent and political freedoms.
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But geopolitical realities such as skyrocketing oil prices caused in part by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 highlighted a need for cooperation between Washington and Riyadh.
The two men greeted each other with a fist bump, which drew some criticism as an overly friendly gesture given human rights concerns. White House aides insisted it was a way to lower Biden’s risk of contracting COVID-19.
During Trump’s visit on Tuesday, the crown prince personally greeted the U.S. president, escorting him up an escalator and later driving him in a golf cart ahead of a state dinner.
“Oh, what I do for the crown prince,“ Trump said, as the crown prince placed his hands over his heart and led a standing ovation.
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